Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 18:26

"The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." — Matthew 18:26 (ASV)

He could not pay, but he could humble himself before his lord. He fell down and worshipped him. He owned the debt and begged for time, “Have patience with me.” Moreover, he gave a promise to discharge his obligations, “I will pay thee all.”

The promise was not worth the breath which spoke it. It is a very usual thing for men who can incur an enormous debt to make light of the payment and fancy that a bill at three months is as good as gold. They dream that time is money and that a promise is a payment.

Many a poor sinner is very rich in resolutions. This servant-debtor thought he only needed patience, but indeed he needed forgiveness! It seems strange that he did not see this, since the debt was so great and he had nothing with which to pay, but was utterly bankrupt. Yet it is a well-known fact that men do not see their true condition before the Lord God, even when they perceive that in many things they fall short.